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A N 

APPENDIX 

li 

T O 

I 

ARISTIDES'S VINDICATION 

OF THE 

VICE PRESIDENT 

OF THE UNITED STATES, 
BY A GENTLEMAN OF NORTH CAROLINA, 
PROVING 

THAT GENERAL HAMILTON 



I 



' 



AT THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 

EXERTED ALL HIS INFLUENCE 

TO SUPPORT MR. JEFFERSON 

IN OPPOSITION TO MR. BURR. 



■ 

u 
VIRGINIA. 



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Printed, and for faleby the Booksellers in this State. 
1804. 






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1 

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Zn Zppmhip, 



B Y 



A GENTLEMAN of NORTH CAROLINA* 



j|_ H E charges of intrigue, advanced againft the 
vice-prefident of the United States by the Clintonian 
faction, attracted general attention throughout the 
union.. — The boldnefs with which the allegations were 
made, excited the concern and aftoniihment of. moft 
well wifhers to the federal government. To many 
difcerning minds they appeared the prelude of a ca- 
taftrophy, which was likely to diffolve the political 
harmony of the Hates, and perhaps in the end, in* 
volve their citizens in all the horrors of civil wan 
Nor was tins fufpicion a viiionary fear, and without 
grounds. For the laft eighteen months, the pen of 
every unprincipled fcribbler, and the wit of every li- 
centious lampooner, were penfioned and bribed to ef- 
fect the iniquitous purpofe. Every tale which calum- 
ny could invent, was fabricated and re-echoed, from 
ear to ear, and from town to town by the wretched 
tools of a defperate fatSlion, until the independent 
mind of the honefl patriot, began to fragger at the ac- 
cufations preferred againfl Mr. Burr, and even to 
doubt of the correclnefs of his principles. But the 
malk of hypociicy which veiled the defigns of this 
hydra of ambition, rafhnefs and tumult is now hap- 
pily torn aminder. The members which compofed it, 
have been delineated by the boldeft lines, and in the 
liappieft manner. In the picture drawn, the whole 



catalogue of vice and crime is at once expofed to 
view j nor has a fingle feature of treachery been neg- 
lected, which language could expreis. 

There remains however, one part of the confpiracy 
formed againfl the vice-prefident which, has not been 
fufficiently developed; I mean the fecret motives and 
deligns of the overtures which were made to Mf. Burr 
by Mri Ogden. Ariftides probably was unacquainted 
with fome important fatis, relating to that myfterious 
affair, which have been' in ray poffeilion for fome time, 
or he would unqueftionabiy have brought them forward 
to prove that both General Hamilton, and his obfequi- 
ous fervant Mr. Ogden, were guided on that occa- 
fion, by very different views from either friendfhip 
to Mr. Burr, love to their country, or a defire to 
ferve the caufe of federalifm. 

I am well aware, it is both an unpleafant and un- 
popular tafk, to unfold any circumftances which may 
affecT, or impeach the integrity of General Hamilton. 
Fortune has (hielded the character of this gentleman 
from his youth, by the voice of acknowledged virtue 
and wifdom. During the lifetime of General Wafh- 
ington, the flighted infmuation againft either the ta- 
lents, honefly, or personal courage, of Hamilton, 
was deemed an infult, offered to the underftanding of 
a man, on whole judgment, the unbounded gratitude 
of a generous people had flamped the feal of divine 
penetration. The facred memory of Wafhington has 
iince proved an afylum for the intriguing General 
and fcreened his actions from merited vengeance ; 
in like manner as the venerable afpect of antiquity, 
frequently protects the diftorted and ruinous pile, 
and caufes for a while, public utility to give way to 
public nuifance. But both juftice and reafon require 
tha" the peace and honor of America mould not always 
be endangered by an undue refpect for the manes of 
Wafhington. The many inviduous counfels, which 
have flowed from the ambitious heart of Hamilton ; 
and the poifoned foppery of his tongue, which affails 
merit and chaftity in every fhape ; demand a fpeedy day 
of retribution. The vindication of the fecond officer 
of the union, whofe poli:ical principles, and integrity 



i ■ 



have been io unjuftly dabbed ; renders neceffary the 
expofure of a plan, which had very nearly proved 
iatal to the happinefs of the United States. 

The firfr. inftance on record, where the equivocat- 
ing genius of Hamilton was apparent, is in his evi- 
dence given at the trial of general Charles Lee in the 
year 1778. The fate of this unfortunate and brave 
oiricer on that occafion is well known, but time has 
obliterated many of the circumftances which attended 
that remarkable trial. The intimacy which exiiled 
between Hamilton and Lee previous to this period, 
and the friendmip and fervices of the latter to the for- 
mer, are now only recollected by the few remaining 
veterans of the day, who Mill exit, witnefTes of the 
open and heroic conduct of the ont^, and of the felfifli 
ingratitude of the other. The war s which general 
Lee, in his defence, applied to Hamilton, are no 
doubt itill freih. in his memory, and probably at times, 
in the corroding moment of guilty conference, inflict 
in his bread a iilent but nervous cbaitifement. — 
<c There is one part of Colonel Hamilton's evidence, 
I cannot help animadverting upon ; it has hurt me be- 
caufe it is even an impeachment of ray qualifications 
as an officer, and it has hurt me the more, as it comes 
from a man of efteemed fenfe, and whole valour I my- 
ielf was witnefs of, although it is not that fort of va- 
lour, unlefs by practice and philofophy, he can cor- 
rect, will ever be of any great fervice to the commu- 
nity." Ingratitude of every description, is certainly 
one of the moft fliameful and deteitable vices, which 
can pollute the heart of man ; but that ingratitude 
which betrays the friend and benefactor in adverfity 
from a mean complaisance to power, is of all others 
the bafeft and merits the fevereft cenfure. In making 
this remark, I truth it will not be fuppofed, that I in- 
tend any reflection on the character of Washington. 
I believe it has been long lince underftood, and there- 
fore requires no repetition here, that with refpect to 
General Lee's conduct at the battle of Monmouth, 
General Wafhington was egregioufly impoied upon, 
by a fervile faction headed by Wayne, and dragooned 
into exercife by the Baron Stuben. 



One of the moft lamentable circumftances attending 
the lot of greatnefs is the croud of deception and flat- 
tery, which flutters round it. The utmoil . irtue «],d 
the keeneft penetration, are at times unable to reiift 
the 'dazzling tale of the courteous minion, v hich fteais 
on the heart, and with the gall of detraction wounds 
every noble deed. There are no characters more 
dangerous to others and pitiful in themfetves as thofe 
of the fycophant and courtier. To fatisfy their ambi- 
tion they leave no itone unturned, but facrifice both 
friendfhip, peace and honor. The inftances of degra- 
dation, to which the fawning wretch of power has de- 
fcended appear almoft incredible. The ftory of Cam- 
balus and his courtiers, who to quiet the jealoufy <T 
Seleucus, fubmitted to the painful odium of caltiati- 
on, is well known. But whether the love of power 
would ever fo far preponderate over the love of plea- 
fure, in the heart of Alexander Hamilton, is a pro- 
portion which could be folved, only, by placing the 
amorous General between a crown and a venus, with 
a fkilful anatomift on one fide, and all the delicacies 
of the toilet on the other. This might furniili, an 
amufmg experiment for the plodding metaph\hcia'i\ 
and it is probable, the celebrated que ft ion of free-will 
would be as eafily determined in this manner, as by 
the propofed expedient of placing an afs betwee;. 
bundles of ftraw. 

It has been frequently obferved that the firft de- 
parture from virtue is enough; and if what a French 
writer, I think Defpreaux has faid of crimes was ever 
applicable to a man ; that perfon is Hamilton. 

Dans le Crime il fufEt qu'une fois l'on debute 
Une chute toujours attire une autre chute 
L'honneur eft comme une ifle efcarpee & fans bords 
On ny remonte plus, quand on eft dehors 

After the defertion of his earlieft benefactor and 
military friend; we find in General Hamilton's life, 
nothing but a continued feries of ambitious fteps, co- 
vered with ingratitude and ftained with vice. No man 
has panted and thirfted after the knight errand honours 
of chivalry, more than this member of the Cincinnati; 



but with what characters would his fhield have been 
emblazoned had his propofed fcheme of hereditary ti- 
tle been adopted. Would he have aflumed the toma- 
hawk and fcalping knife, as his fupporters to mark 
the Indian war of 1790,-2; or would he have rather 
chofen the form of a Lucretia and a Cleopatra to de- 
note on the one hand the chaftity of.marriage he has 
betrayed and on the other the wanton laicivioufiiefs 
which he has embraced. The tears of betrayed Frien j - 
Ihip, joined to the emblems of creolean defcent, w )uld 
furnifti an ample field for a fcutcheon of adultery an4 
crhne. 

Were I poflefled of the lively powers of Ariftides, 
and could command thofe Sights of fatyre, and figures 
of rhetoric which adorn his pae;es, I might dwell on 
the portrait of General Hamilton until the appe; dix 
far exceeded the fize of the pamphlet to which it is at- 
tached. The traits, which compofe the character of 
Alexander Hamilton, are lb many, fb various, and 
oppoilte in their kind, that to obtain a true reprefen- 
jtation would require the united efforts of virtue ar.i 
vice ; of art and fcience ; of intrigue and corruption, 
and of profligacy and debauch, The piclure if truly 
delineated, would exhibit a world of characters cen- 
tered in one individual, and might read a lecture both 
£0 the ftatefman and foldier, as well as to the deep in- 
triguer and pander of chailicy. , Gallantry would be 
explored in a 11 t windings of deceitful love. Hy- 
pocricy in all her wiles. The tender palTions would 
be analyzed with the acu-tenefs of Hogarth, and the 
delicate touches of Sapho; while the powers of orato- 
ry borne on the wings of wit, and fupported by a 
blaze of metaphor, would dazzle and aftoniili every 
beholder. But ftill I defpair, if the iikenefs even 
though correct, would afford either pleafure or fatis- 
ia£lion. The patriot and chriftian would retire with 
forrowful difguil, at a fpectacle of vice blended with 
talent, andtriumphantcver virtue. Reprefentations of 
this nature are always the moft a {Hiding to the gene- 
rous rnindo We read the characters of the Clintons 
and Living-dons, as drawn by Ariitides, without any 
other emotion than that which is excited by the de? 



8 

ferved punifhment of the deepeft villainy. A tear 
would not be fhed, but a fmile might be raifed, al- 
though every Livingfton and Clinton who has receiv- 
ed the lalh of Ariftides were fufpended on one gibbet. 
We mould only regard the circumftance as one of the 
ordinary executions of Providence, and proceeding 
from the juft judgment of God. But with refpec> to 
Hamilton we weep at the idea, that there mould exift 
one inftance of l'uch exalted talent, fo deeply clothed 
in vice and only trimmed with virtue. 

After a digreffion which has perhaps been painful 
to the reader; I (hall now return to the principal fub- 
jecl of this appendix, the overtures which were ina ; e 
to colonel Burr by A'lr. Ogden. But in order to ar- 
rive at the iecret fource of that extraordinary propo- 
sal ; it is necefTary to trace back the caufe of the mu- 
tual jealoufy and antipathy, which for many years 
have exifled between General Hamilton and Colonel 
Burr. Thefe two perfons entered into the revolu- 
tionary army nearly at the fame time, and with a tri- 
fling difparity in refpeel to age. Alexander Hamil- 
ton had the advantage of colonel Burr by a few years. 
Difgufl: and ambition were the motives of the former. 
Patriotifm and the love of liberty thofe of the latter. 
The legitimate branch of the family of Cruger can 
beft explain the caufe of Hamilton's averfion to the 
Sentiments of his father. The' regifter of births in 
the Ifland of Nevis, will furnifh the future hiftorian 
of Hamilton's life, with fome curious information on 
this head. The poems of the late Peter Markoe of 
• Philadelphia may alfo be confulted on the fame fubjedt. 
The fevereft of the General's enemies cannot fay in 
the language of Junius, u that from his birth he deriv- 
ed a constitutional claim to refpeel" but his friends, 
may exult in the idea, that he has neither proftituted 
the higheft hereditary title or the moil iplen&id fami- 
ly fortune. 

Notwithstanding however this javorable circum- 
stance in the life of General Hamilton, yet a thirft af- 
ter power and hereditary rank, was to form his dif- 
tinguiihing characterise ; and to draw a perpetual 
line of feparation, between the Generals politics, and 



thoie of colonel Burr. The latter having retired from 
the army fome years before the clofe of the war gave 
an opportunity to Hamilton to triumph over a man, 
whom he had -ever confidered his moil formidable ri- 
val both in arms and in civil life. The eitabiilhraent 
of the ordei of the Cincinnati in which the name of the 
Weft Indian adventurer, was glorioufly enrolled, 
crowned his victory. 

It is neither my wifn or intention, to condemn or 
advocate the eftablifhment of the Cincinnati. It is an 
order productive of many advantages, and pregnant 
with many evils. The enemies of this order have 
doubtleis been amufed and gratified, by the able confi- 
derations of iEdanus Burke ; a man than whom America 
has not produced a more able writer. All the poffible 
objections which can be advanced againft the policy of 
eftabiiftiing badges of diftinction in a republican coun- 
try, are fully detailed and commented upon in a pam- 
phlet written by this gentleman, under the fignature 
of Gaums in the year 1783. 

The peace of 17^3 w^s no fooner concluded than 
Hamilton and Burr embarked in oppofite characters on 
the tempeftuous ftage of politics. The former to 
vindicate the caufe of thufe men, againft whom he 
had fought, and in a civil capacity to fap the founda- 
tion of thofe very principles which eftabliilied the in- 
dependence of America and opened a new sera of li- 
berty to mankind. But Colonel Burr with that con- 
fiftency which has ever marked his character, exerted 
all his abilities to oppofe thofe men and thofe opini- 
ons which he had oppofed in the field. The letters 
of Phocion, the known production of the pen of Ha- 
milton; written foon after the peace; fufficientlv de- 
monftrate the fentiments which he then entertained ; 
fentiments however excufable in a Briton, are by no 
means confident with the principles of republicanifm. 
This embittered the animofity and jealoufy which Co- 
lonel Burr had for fome time before entertained againft 
General Hamilton, and caufed him ftrenuoufly to com- 
bat as likewife to watch over every political ftep which 
Hamilton advocated. The favors of Waihington 
which were fo bountifully poured from the pureft mo- 



IO 

tives on the bead of the Weft-Indian, and by fome un- 
happy prejudice averted from Colonel Burr, nar.uruily 
rouied the indignation of the latter againff. both fede- 
ral men and federal meafures. 

Col-onel Burr, was elected to the Senate of 
Congrefs in r79i, and the coireclnefs of his political 
principles, can no ways be more jufijy eftimated than 
by examining the journals of the Senate, for thofe 
years in which he was a member of that honorable bo- 
dy. It will thereby be 'afcertained, that he warmly 
efpoufed every bill which tended to promote the caufe 
of univerfai liberty, and the happinefs of his fellow 
citizens. His bold oppofrcicn to the Britiih treaty, 
and the fpeech which he delivered on that memorable 
occafion ; ought ever to endear him to the breaft of 
every lover of liberty, and friend to the intereit of 
the United State?: while the letters of Camdlus, 
ofFspri: bogfted. offspring of Hamilton ; the 

I or this afpiring itatet . anj ought to 
pro he latter to the world as a c» ara&er, who 

probabl) \i he vie permitted, would like CaTar crc is 
the Rubicon, and following the example of the Cor- 
fiean uiurper eftabjifh a government, which would re- 
femble a republic only in name. 

I have now given a fhort fketch, both, of the oppo- 
fue characters, and principles of Colonel Burr and ' 
General Hamilton. The delineation has been faint ; 
but i'till I hope it has been fufticientiy perfpicious to 
ferve as an introduction to the developement of the 
nature and defign of thofe overtures which were made 
by IV] r. Ogden to Colonel Burr. This Mr. Ogden is 
the intimate friend, companion and iervant in politi- 
cal intrigue to General Hamilton. Every ftep and 
movement which Mr. Ogden takes in the meandring 
circuit of politics ; may in reality be regarded as only 
paving the way for the Tub tile General to tread more 
lightly, and lay his mares with more effect and great- 
er fecurity. It is proved by Mr. Ogden's own letter 
that he did aclually after bis return from Washington 
to Neiv-Tork> wait on Colonel Burr, and propose terms 
for his election; at the express desire of two or three 



II 

be federal party _,■ hit that Colonel Burr explicitly 
declined the explanation, and did neither propose nor 
agree to any terms. While Mr. Ogden was at the 
feat of government or previous to his departure from 
New- York, the deceafed General Gun received a let- 
ter from General Hamilton to the following purpofe. 
Hamilton prefaced his letter by obferving the fortune 
and fuecefs of Colonel Burr. He declared that he 
(Colonel Burr) had arrived at an honour (or fome 
words to that effect) which he never could have fup- 
poied ; but at the fame time gave nis decided opinion, 
that by all means Mr. Jefferfon ought to be elected ; 
for that Colonel Burr was a greater Jacobin than Mr. 
Jefferfon and of no principle, while the former had 
fome. The federal party he fupppofed might have a 
degree of reliance upon Mr. jefferfon ; but upon Mr. 
Burr thev could have none. The exiffence of this let- 
ter may be crueftioned ; but the fact is fortunately for 
Colonel Burr too well eflabliihed for his enemies to 
contradict. I can with confidence, and without dread 
of being confuted, appeal to Mr. John Gun brother 
to the General as to the truth of what I here affert. 
I can with the fame degree of certainty appeal to Mr. 
Davis of the Virginia Gazette, and to Colonel Van- 
dewal the Pcft Matter of Richmond. I could if I 
pieafed call upon feveral other gentlemen to fupport 
my affertion; which I know"" is true: and know alfo, 
will remain uncontradicted, by thole who I have nam- 
ed. It is proper however to remark in jufrice tothefe 
gentlemen that although mv information is correct; it 
was obtained from a very different fource. 

Let the reader of thefe pages now paufe, and if he 
do ; though his capacity be the mofl moderate, the 
real deiign of Hamilton and Ogden will inftantaneoufly 
unfold itfelf; and with all the fleetnefs of quickeft 
idea, reverberate through his mind. Hamilton's let- 
ter to General Gun and Mr. Ogden's to Dr. Irvine 
firft publifhed in the Morning Chronicle and re~pub- 
lifhed by Ariftides, fpeak an irreuftable evidence to 
every impartial and unprejudiced perfon ; that the pro- 
pofal from Mr. Ogden amounted to nothing elfe but a 
deep preconcerted plan, to produce what it has in 



12 

reality effected a divifion of the republican intereft. 
The letter from Hamilton to Gun, proves, that the 
moft vifionary hope could never have been entertain- 
ed, that Colonel Burr would have acceded to the in- 
famy of the proffered terms. What poilib.e motives, 
then, could have induced Mr. Ogde l to wait on Co- 
lonel Burr relative to the fubjecT: of the election ? Pa- 
triotic intentions certainly were out of the queftion . 
A love of country 01 defire to ferve the citize iS o 
United States could never have perfu led 
rieral Hamilton or Mr. Ogden to bargain with a man 
for the chief magiftracy, who was confefTed by the 
former to be a perfon deltitute of principle. Neither 
could it have proceeded from a reliance upon the fup- 
pofed inclination of Colonel Burr to ferve the federal 
caufe ; for General Hamilton declared that the feder- 
alifts might repofe lome confidence in Mr. JefTerfon 
but from Colonel Bnrr they could expect no favour. 
Tbe.fophi.ftry of Hamilton, the complaifant language of 
Ogden and ihe vociferous declamation of the whole legi- 
on of Cliatoniansand Livingitons joined to the Billingf- 
gate fcurrility of their fervile lampooners will in vain be 
exerted to give any other explanation of the offer made 
to Colonel Burr than that which I haveftated. Even 
the equivocating comments of that ^ Kilderkin of wit" 
who edits the Hamiitonian poit, and whofe chara&er 
fhall be prefently drawn, mall by their futility of rea- 
soning, and lamenefs of expreffion only add new proofs, 
and throw additional lights upon the confpiracy. The 
difclofure of Mr. Ogden's interview with Colonel Burr 
appear both from the " View" and from Cheetham's 
letters, to have originated with General Hamilton. 
This of itfelf ferves as a convincingproof that the mo- 
tives which actuated Mr. Ogden on that occafion, 
were none of the purelt. 1 he hatred and jealoufy 
which were for years ri vetted in the breads of the 
Clintons and Livingftons againft Colonel Burr, were 
therefore to co-operate with the ambition of General 
Hamilton and his friends, and to fow among the repub- 
lican citizens of the union, thofe diffentions and evils 
which if not detected, would once more have realifed 
thofe fcenes of confufion, maffacre, and horror pre- 



*3 

fented in this country during the revolutionary war. 
State would have been armed againft ftate, village 
againft village, ar.d the members of the fame family, 
would even have been imprefied with different paflions 
and different principles. America would have mourn- 
ed that there ever was a time, when the wandering 
foot of' foreign depravity had trodden her mores, and 
wafted acrofs the Atlantic, the fcum of mutiny and 
defperate rebellion. Under the yoke of ufurping 
chains, and groaning at the foot of defpotifm ; fhe 
Should have perhaps beheld an ambitious adventurer, 
ant with vice, rob her treafury ; deb afe the in- 
herent virtue of the female breaft; and imitating the 
example of Commodus and Catigula, omni parte cor- 
poris atque ore in sexum utrumque pollutiu, plunge 
into the gulph of extravagant luxury, and unnatural 
war.tonnefs. In " fackcloth and allies" might ihe have 
lamented the day, that fire liftened to the Hand reus 
tales of faction ; and preffed to her bofom, the cor- 
rupted and hired defamer of characters, to the exclu- 
fion of her deareft friends, thole patriots of 1776 who' 
poffefTed of the nobleft affections of the mind ; riikeil 
every thing which was facred; even life itfelf in the 
defence of their rights of rational liberty ; not the li- 
centious liberty of deiigning knaves, pick-pockets and 
murderers ; but that liberty the enjoyment of which, 
in place of ftparating, connects more cloiely the bonds 
of fociety, gives energy to government, and happi- 
nefs to the peopie. But fmce the cloud of treachery 
has once been by the hand of divine providence bur$ 
afunder, let every citizen henceforth by an unwearied 
difcharge of duty to God and his country, guard againft 
the arts of the intriguing ambitious character, and the 
profligate writer. Let him put his hand upon his 
breaft and exclaim in the words of Haftings. 

Who can remember this, and not, like me, 
Here with to {heath a dagger in h& heart, 
Whofe damn'd ambition would renew thofe horrors 
And let, once more, that fcene of blood before us ? 

I have already (lightly noticed the Evening-Pcft 
of New- York, a paper which is devoted to the exclu- 



x 



1 



u 

five views of General Hamilton. A brief de\ . 
jnent of the character of the Gentleman, whocu,: 
ttiis News-Paper, and the agency which lie had in 
{laddering the reputation of Colonel Burr {hall clofe 
thefe pages. 

The ambitious politician feldom chufes the company 
of men of virtue, but repofes his confidence in I 
totally deftitute of eery moral principle. This cer- 
tainly is a fortunate cireumftance for mankind, and in 
a great meafure ferves as an antidote, againft the poi- 
fon, which is perpetually flowing from the heart of 
corruption and intrigue. It feems to be one of thote 
wife and provident laws of nature that peftilence, and 
ravaging deftruction of every fpecies are accompanied 
by fbme monitor of fafety for men. The decay of 
the infect creation directs us to fly from the plague 
and fever, the rattle from the bite of the fnake, while 
betrayed confidence frustrates the ftatefman's confpi- 
racy. Had Alexander Hamilton not always a Cole- 
man fawning and fluttering round him, to catch at 
every indiicreet expreffionj and then to betray them 
to fome vulgar aflbciate or political runner ; his extra- 
ordinary powers would have endangered the freedom 
of any nation. But this Coleman is the mod happy 
foil which chance pofiihly could have directed as a 
bar to the ambitious tchemes of the designing General. 
With a heart undeserving the confidence of the 
meaneft Clintonian ; with a head void even of the ac- 
quired learning of Gheetham ; a more frivolous cox- 
comb than Richard Riker; a more miferable pettifog- 
er than Tunis Wortman j deftitute of the pugiliftic 
prowefs of Pennington while cowardice vibrates 
through every vein and paliies every nerve, he pre- 
fents a fpeclacle which is infamy toconverfe w T ith, in- 
famy to touch, infamy to behold, nay, even infamy, 
to breath the air along which he palfes. He reports • 
himfelfto have had a liberal education at the college of 
Cambridge, Maffaehuietts. If this be true, thatuni- 
verfity had much better for their own honour, have 
penfioned Coleman for life, to refide with his grandmo- 
ther, in his native village of Greenfield, than to have 
difgraced fuch a refpectable feminary by the daily pro^ 






pagation of calumny and falfehood. It is faid of the 
Scotch nation, that they keep centinels placed on the 
frontiers between Scotland and England, to prevent 
the emigration of folly and dullnefs, which might tar- 
nifti their eflablifiied fame of acutenefs among foreign- 
ers. Had the legislature of Connecticut purfued the 
fame policy, Coleman at this day, would not have 
been acting in the humble capacity of fcavenger among 
the airy catties of power which perpetually glitter in 
the vifionary fancy of Alexander Hamilton, 

This Connecticut worthy owed his firfr rife in life 
to Colonel Burr. He was drawn from the dregs of 
poverty, and meanefs of birth, by the benevolent 
hand of this Gentleman. When Coleman entered the 
office of Colonel Burr he was inadequate to execute 
the moft menial errand which bulinefs required.- — 
He even had not decency enough for the fcullion of a 
orothel, knowledge fufficient for a ftationer's appren- 
tice, or requifite courage to face the frowns of a Con- 
ftable. Colonel Burr after making feveral experi- 
ments to difcover the genius of his charity boy, was 
at laft under the neceflity of only employing him, to 
wipe the dull from off his books, clean his table, and 
fold his papers. But even to this drudging talk the 
capacity of Coleman was unequal. The library of 
Colonel Burr became muily, his papers out of order 
and his room covered with filth. No man has been 
more unfortunate than Colonel Burr, in refpect to the 
feveral young men whom his generous difpofition has 
educated. The fucceffor of Coleman was the unhap- 
py Burbidge, a native of the fame ifcate, and for aught 
I know recommended to Colonel Burr by him. The 
dory of this young man, having received thirty (tripes 
laft fummer on his bare back, for imitating the exam- 
ple of one of Coleman's antagonists, is well known to 
every perfon except the readers of the Ameri 'can-Citi- 
zen. This was the only 'news-paper in which the 
circumftance was not reported. Whether Coleman 
and the editor of that paper felt a fellow fueling with 
Burbidge is uncertain. But the fqueamiOi qualms of 
confeience, which prevented the Hamiltonian-Poft to 
publilh the difgraceful punifhment that w r as inflicted 



i6 



on a certain imported editor, have been confeflVl. 
That ftory is however now fupported by better ttiti- 
mony than Callender.' The musical Coleman when- 
ever he pleafes, may prepare an ode on the cir- 
cumftance ; to be fung at the firil: meeting of the Ana- 
creontic fociety in New- York. A Mr. Saunderfon a 
refpe6table clerical character now in Virginia, but fome 
years fince chaplain to a regiment in the Eaft-Indies, 
afferted to feveral gentlemen in Richmond, as alio in 
the Printing-Office, where thefe pages are fet, that 
he was prefent at the amufing fcene, when the seat of 
honor of the Pennsylvania Organ was harmonised by 
a british drummer. The memorable event gave riie to 
the following lines which appeared a few days after in 
the Calcutta Gazette, 

When high in air the Indian World* was bound, 
And felonious (tripes, fcourg'd the World around; 
In waves of crimfon deep, and ftreams of blood ; 
For fedition's fins, widely fpread the flood ; 
'Till Braman mild, forgave the Rebel's wrong, 
Unbound his limbs, but feal'dhis fland'rous tongue. 

I am almoft ailiamed to trefTpafs on the patience of 
the reader by narrating any circumftance which re- 
lates to the mod profligate defamer of characters that 
America ever witnefled. The epithets and the ftyle 
of language which I have applied to Coleman, may 
alfo to fome appear illeberal. When we however con- 
fider the mifchievous confequences which may arife 
from a News- Paper excluiively devoted to ferve a 
molt ambitious and dangerous faction, no words or 
mode of expreilion can furnifh fufficiently opprobrious 
terms adequate to the villany. I truft it will never be 
fuppofed that under the Hamiltonian faction I include, 
or wilh to dengnate any of the real federal characters. 
Paction and federalifm are two very diitinel terms, 
and I hope in God they fliall always remain fo. I am 
far however from fuppolmg that now the weight and 



* The INDlAN-ViORLD, was the name of the pa- 
per which the now Pennsylvania Organ published at 
Calcutta in 1794. 






i7 

influence of even Hamilton, De Witt Clinton, and 
the whole family of Livingfton's were they joined to- 
gether, and their views unanimous, can make the in- 
dependence of the dates, after the characters of the 
leaders are fo fully known and their fchemes of trea- 
chery developed. I believe not a fingle virtuous indi- 
vidual will be found weak enough to tread in their 
fteps. There may indeed be a few pretended pious 
characters, who imitating the generous expounder of 
the gofpels at New York, with uplifted hands, and 
with all the fanSlit^ of grimace which hypocrify can 
afTume, will invoke the divine providence to protect 
his worfhip De Witt Clinton in all his fchemes ; de- 
fend his followers from the envious tongue of flander, 
and waft home in fecurity the venerable Chancellor 
Livingilon, a man whofe abhorrence for every fpecies 
of vice, is as notorious as his acutenefs in found. 

But to return to the editor of the Hamiltonian- 
Poft. It is not eafy to conceive what poflible motives 
could have induced a perfon of General Hamilton's 
penetration to have taken into his fervice fuch a paltry 
fycophant, contemptible fcribler and reputed coward 
as Coleman. As to mental qualifications his head is 
a defart of barrennefs. His weaknefs of eyes whe- 
ther proceeding from fweeping the duft againft the 
wind on Colonel Burr's ftaircafe; or ufeing too pro- 
fufely the receipts of Doctor Soloman, renders him 
an inactive editor, particularly when it is known he 
cannot pen a Iingle fentence without fearching over 
and over the leaves of a dictionary, and prying into 
fome claflic in order to make out a fpecies of decent 
News-Paper Billinsgate. His pedantic pragmatical 
addrefs, precludes him from ferving the General in 
the capacity of a pimp. The fhivering pangs of cow- 
ardice, which pervade and thrill every mufcle of his 
body, frequently confine him for days together, coop- 
ed up among a lumber of: fcandal and butchered maga- 
zines, like a half dead felon expecting the fatal rope. 
His dread of Cheetham is fuch, that he almoft never 
walks the ftreets without having fome corpulent Alder- 
man to ftrtit before his nofe. The afibciates and com- 
panions of his vacant hours, are the moft defperate 



minion?, whom corruption can procure, and vill; 
produce. And yet this is the man whom General 
Hamilton has employed to defend the rights of chrifti- 
anity and the federal Constitution. > As well might a. 
whole army of hangmen, with their tortures, thiir 
wheels, and their axes, advocate thecaufe of humani- 
ty. As well might his honor Judge Living/ton, en- 
throned on the seat of justice inculcate through the 
crooked nostril of affetled moderation the precepts of 
honefty and virtue. With equal propriety, I fay, 
might the Pontifex Maximus of the Clintonian Church 
mai ching in the front of the Tbeistical Society of New- 
York and robed in the canonnicals of hypocrify de- 
claim againft slander and calumny, at the fame time 
exciting his followers to perfecution by the following 
remarkable motto, sub noclis umbra et nominis auxilio 
vinces. * With equal confi*tency might thefe circum- 
ftances take place, as for Coleman to attempt to advo- 
cate the caufe of chriftianity and juftice. This lan- 
guage I own may appear harm; but as I have already 
faid, the portrait of such a fellow requires the coarieft 
colouring. What I am going to relate, I hope alio 
will plead an appologv, and even compel the unblufh- 
ing Hamilton hi mi elf, reeking with the infamy of 
whoredom and accumulated guilt, to confels that I 
have reafon on my fide. 

About the very time, and perhaps on the very 
days, that the Evening Poft of New- York was echo- 
ing thro' the union the charitable donation which Mr. 
Jefferfon made to Calender, was Mr. Coleman em- 
ployed in writing letters to a refpeclable federal cha- 
racter at the city of Richmond Virginia, requeuing 
him to ufe his influence with the author of the Pros- 
peel: before us, and if poflible lead him into the Hamil- 
tonian path of politics. The cons and pros I believe 
were not precifely mentioned by Coleman, nor was 
the amount of Calender's penfion particularly fpecifi- 
ed. Thefe it is to be prefumed were defered until 



* Thoie Clintonians who wifh for an explanation may apply to 
the Rev. Dr. M'KNIGHT j this Gentleman is both a latin 
fcholar, and extremely accomodating to his friends; 



*9 

the pleafure and expectatiens of Callender were known* 
#ut the hopes of Hamilton and Coleman were at once 
plaited, by the upright and honourable conduct of the 
federal gentleman, who after being teafed by Cole- 
man's letters on this fubject, returned an anfwer to 
the following purport. That Callender was a man 
that would not be dragooned into any fentiments or 
political way of thinking except his own ; but even if 
this were not the cafe, that he would never be the 
perfon who mould be acceffary in biaffing a political 
writer in favor of one party or another. .Previous to 
this correfpondence; this federalift was the gentleman 
to whom the Evening Poit owed its principle circulati- 
on in the itate of Virginia; and he probably would 
have continued his fupport unlefs Coleman's letters 
had demonitrated to him, that the views of the Even- 
ing Foil: were only intended to promote the defigns of 
Alexander Hamilton, and not the federal intereft or 
that of the citizens at large. I have no perfonal ac- 
i;ii;vintance with this federaiiit, but I coniider it my 
duty to declare that there is no man whofe character 
I more efteem ; or whofe literary talents I more ad- 
mire. Let the reader now perufe the character given 
of General Hamilton by this fame Callender. (Profpect 
heroic us, vol. 2,. part 2d. page 25) to whom Coleman 
was fo very zealous to give the fraternal embrace ; and 
from thence let him infer, what (pedes of materials 
compotes the heart of Coleman and his patron Hamil- 
ton, i; There is no citizen of the union imce the flight 
of Benedict Arnold, who has, in fuch deep and death- 
leis characters of hiifory, wrote fcoundrei upon his 
forehead, as this triton of traitors, this prodigy from 
the Weft-Indies, this preceptor of the firft and fecond 
congrefs." 

This correfpondence of Coleman, and the letter 
from General Hamilton to General Gun, fo inconiif- 
tant with the overtures from Mr. Ogden to Colonel 
Burr ; I hope will appear fufficient indexes of the views 
of the Hamiltonian party, whofe only object is by ail- 
uniting men of all parties, and difTolving the deareit 
friendihips and the clofeft connections, to raife upon 
the ruins of federalifm and anti-federaliiin a hydra- 









20 




faction which perhaps in its confequences will prove 
as dreadful as any which has ever ftained the revolu- 
tion of France. What confidence can be put in the 
proteftations of a man, who would be inPcrumental in 
electing a perfon to the chief magistracy of the Unit- 
ed States, whom he had declared in a confidential let- 
ter to be a character of no principle ? or what mult 
his views have been when he was previoufly certain, 
that this perfon would not liften to his terms ? Could 
any other poffible motives have actuated General Ha- 
milton on this occafion, but the defire of framing a 
foundation, upon which a towering tale of calumny 
might be erected ? What reliance can be placed on 2 
news-paper the editor of which, would bafely defcend 
to court the aid of the moft notorious and convicted 
libeller that ever crolTed the Atlantic ? Have not the 
equivocating remarks in the Evening Port ever fmce 
the rupture between the Burrites and Clintonians prov- 
ed, that the real intention of its proitituted editor was 
to widen the breach between former friends ? Does 
he not like a wanton baboon laugh and fneer at the 
mifchief which he creates ? What pranks or tricks 
has this reviewer of miferable puns, catches and 
crotchets neglected to produce the diabolical purpofe? 
These queftions, and the facts which I have relat- 
ed, are humbly fubmitted to the ferious consideration 
of citizens of all defcriptions, with the moft ardent 
defire that they may have a beneficial tendency. With 
this recompence, the only object of my defire I (hall 
reft fatisfied; for in the fulleft alTurance that my name 
lhall never be difclofed, I write neither for place, 
penfion or pecuniary emolument. 

State of North-Carolina,! 
7th of January, 1804. J 



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